CONSERVATION STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM
Raw Ranking Points for
Conservation Enhancement Activities
and Regular Conservation Practices
Please note: Conservation enhancements and practices eligible for selection in CSP may change
over time, as may point values. We will keep this list updated as changes are made, though there
may be a small delay time depending on how quickly we receive the changes from USDA’s
Natural Resources Conservation Service.
Terms
Conservation enhancements are available to all CSP participants who are willing to adopt the
enhancement on their operation, or who are willing to improve an existing conservation activity
so that it fully meets the requirements for the enhancement. Some enhancements apply to all
four land use categories -- cropland, pasture, rangeland, or forested land -- though most apply to
one or two land use types specifically.
Regular conservation practices are available to CSP participants who, when they sign-up for the
program, are not already meeting or exceeding the stewardship threshold for the three to five
priority resource concerns for their state or region and who could use the practice to help meet
additional stewardship thresholds.
Conservation baseline activities are also scored with similar point values for ranking and
payment purposes. Those existing conservation activities are not listed below. More
information on those activities and point values will be available on this website soon.
Point values are based on the overall level of expected environmental benefits from
improvement or adoption of the enhancement or practice for soil conservation, soil quality, water
conservation, water quality, air quality, energy conservation, wildlife habitat, and biodiversity, as
determined by NRCS.
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List - From Highest Scoring to Lowest Scoring Enhancements and Practices
CSP Conservation Enhancements in Regular Typeface
Regular Conservation Practices in Italics
VERY HIGH
64
Multi-species native perennials for biomass
62
Conversion of Cropped Land to Grass-Based Agriculture for Biomass or Forage
Production
55
Continuous Cover Crops
55
Continuous No-Till for Organic Farming Systems
46
Continuous No-Till with Residue Management
44
Resource Conserving Crop Rotation
44
Cover Crop
HIGH
40
Conservation Crop Rotation
39
Rotation of Livestock Feeding and Supplementation Areas
38
Transition to Organic Cropping Systems
38
Extend Existing Herbaceous Riparian Buffer
38
Plant Annual Cover Crop to Scavenge Residual Nitrogen
38
Windbreak or Shelterbelt Establishment
38
Irrigation Water Management
38
Prescribed Grazing
37
Use Legume Cover Crops as a Nitrogen Source
37
Prairie Restoration
36
Extend Existing Riparian Forest Buffers
35
Integrated Pest Management for Organic Production Systems
34
Extend Existing Filter Strip
34
No-Till/Strip Till/Direct Seed with Residue Management
34
Tree or Shrub Establishment
33
High Level Integrated Pest Management
33
Transition to Organic Grazing Systems
2
33
Critical Area Planting
33
Riparian Forest Buffer
32
Use of Non-Chemical Means to Kill Cover Crops
32
Riparian Herbaceous Cover
31
Restoration and Management of Rare and Declining Habitats
31
Wildlife Corridors
31
Monitor Grazing Areas to Improve Grazing Management
31
Irrigation System Automation
31
Use Regional Weather Networks for Irrigation Scheduling
31
Remote Monitoring and Notification of Irrigation Pumping Plant Operation
31
Use Drift-Reducing Nozzles, Low Pressures, and Lower Boom Heights to Reduce Drift
31
Ridge Till with Residue Management
MEDIUM
30
Renovate Windbreak, Shelterbelt, or Hedgerow for Wildlife Habitat
30
Managing Livestock Access to Water Bodies and Courses
30
Pasture and Hay Planting
29
Intensive Management of Rotational Grazing
29
GPS, Smart Sprayer, or Chemical Application Electronic Control Technology
29
Defer Crop Production on Seasonal Wetlands Until After Spring Migration
27
Mulch Till with Residue Management
27
Filter Strip
27
Range Planting
26
Protection of Cultural Resources
26
Land Apply Only Treated Manure
26
Grow at Least 75% of Livestock Feed On-Farm and Use the Manure for Crops
26
Windbreak or Shelterbelt Renovation
26
Forest Stand Improvement
25
Controlled Traffic System
25
Closure and Treatment of Forest Roads, Trails, and Landings
24
Enhance Non-Forested Riparian Zones for Fish and Wildlife
24
Use of Deep-Rooted Crops to Break Up Compaction
3
24
Split Application of Nitrogen Based on a PSNT Test
23
Riparian Forest Buffer
23
Drainage Water Management for Seasonal Wildlife Habitat
23
Harvesting Crops Using Stripper Header
23
Restoration and Management of Rare and Declining Habitat
22
Forest Stand Improvement for Wildlife and Soil Quality
22
Use NUTBAL PRO System to Monitor Livestock Nutritional Quality
22
Biological Suppression and Other Non-Chemical Means to Suppress Weeds and
Invasives
22
Stream Habitat Improvement and Management
21
Establish Pollinator Habitat
21
Establish Beneficial Insect Habitat
21
Patch Burning to Enhance Wildlife Habitat
21
Biological Suppression and Other Non-Chemical Means to Manage Brush and Invasives
21
Precision Application Technology for Nutrients
21
Wetland Wildlife Habitat Management
20
Fuel Use Reduction for Field Operations
20
Field Borders
19
Drainage water management for nutrient, pesticide and pathogen reduction
19
Plant Tissue Tests and Analysis to Adjust Nitrogen Application Rates
19
Split Application of Fertilizer 50% After Crop Emergence
19
Upland Wildlife Habitat
18
Incorporate Native Grasses and Legumes into 15% or More of Forage Bases
18
Shallow Water Habitat
18
Apply Controlled Release Nitrogen Fertilizer
17
Prescribed Burning
17
Early Successional Wildlife Habitat Development and Management
16
On-Farm Research and Demonstration Projects
16
On-Farm Pilot Testing Projects
16
Inject or Incorporate Raw Manure
16
Grazing Management to Improve Wildlife Habitat
4
16
Non-Chemical Pest Control for Livestock
16
Irrigation Pumping Plant Evaluation
16
Forest Trails and Landings to Provide Access
15
Improve Plant Diversity of Non-Cropped Areas for Wildlife Food and Habitat
15
Nitrogen Stabilizers for Air Emissions Control
15
Silvopasture for wildlife habitat
15
Forest Stand Improvement Through Prescribed Burning
15
Multi-Story Cropping of Non-Timber Forest Plants
15
Use of Cover Crop Mixtures
15
Brush Management
14
Forage Harvest Management
:
LOW
12
Harvest Hay in Manner to Allow Wildlife to Flush and Escape
12
Retrofit Water Facility for Wildlife Escape
11
Recycle 100% of Farm Lubricants
10
Apply Nutrients No More Than 30 Days Before Planting
10
Plastic or Fiber Mulching for Moisture Conservation
9
Locally Grown and Marketed Farm Products
9
Apply Phosphorus Fertilizer Below Soil Surface
9
Residue Management, Seasonal
8
Replace Oil and Wood Fired Heaters in Orchards
8
Hardwood Crop Tree Release
7
Dust Control on Unpaved Roads and Surfaces
7
Pumping Plant Powered by Renewable Energy
7
Forest Slash Treatment
6
Tree/Shrub pruning
5
Solar Powered Electric Fence Charging Systems
5
Forest Stand Improvement by Pre-treating Vegetation and Fuels
5
Fuel Break
4
Firebreak
3
Use Non-Burning Alternatives for Prunings and Crop Residues
5